By George H.B. No. 2803 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a state initiative encouraging the development of 1-3 research in biotechnology and biogenetics. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Chapter 151 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 151. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOGENETICS RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 1-8 Sec. 151.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-9 (1) "Biotechnology and biogenetics research" means 1-10 research the primary object of which is to gain a fuller 1-11 fundamental knowledge of biotechnology and biogenetics and 1-12 application of such knowledge to the public good. 1-13 (2) "Coordinating board" has the meaning assigned by 1-14 Section 61.003 of this code. 1-15 (3) "Eligible institution" means a "medical or dental 1-16 unit" as that term is defined by Section 61.003 of this code. 1-17 (4) "Eligible program" means a specific research 1-18 project, or a research incubator, county research and development 1-19 project, or other initiative that provides infrastructure support 1-20 for one or more research projects in biotechnology and biogenetic 1-21 research at an eligible institution. 2-1 (5) "Faculty member" means a person who is tenured or 2-2 is in a tenure track position or a research professional employed 2-3 by an eligible institution. 2-4 (6) "Initiative" means the biotechnology and 2-5 biogenetics research initiative developed under this chapter. 2-6 Sec. 151.002. PURPOSE. The biotechnology and biogenetics 2-7 research initiative is established to encourage and provide support 2-8 for basic research conducted by faculty members in biotechnology, 2-9 biogenetics and directly related disciplines at eligible 2-10 institutions. 2-11 Sec. 151.003. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES. 2-12 (a) The coordinating board shall administer the initiative. 2-13 (b) The coordinating board shall utilize an advisory 2-14 committee, a majority of which consists of experts in biotechnology 2-15 and biogenetics research, to advise the board regarding the board's 2-16 development of research priorities, guidelines, and procedures to 2-17 be used in selecting eligible programs. 2-18 (c) The guidelines and procedures developed by the 2-19 coordinating board must provide for awards to be made to eligible 2-20 projects based on: 2-21 (1) competitive, peer review analysis; 2-22 (2) amount of past biotechnology and biogenetics 2-23 research conducted by an eligible institution that has been funded 2-24 by federal and private grants, contracts, gifts and endowments; and 2-25 (3) the provision of matching funds for the award that 3-1 will be made by any private source or a local government. 3-2 Sec. 151.004. FUNDING. (a) The initiative is funded by 3-3 appropriations and by gifts, grants, and donations made for that 3-4 purpose. 3-5 (b) From funds appropriated for the initiative, the 3-6 comptroller of public accounts shall issue warrants to each 3-7 eligible institution in the amount certified by the coordinating 3-8 board to the comptroller. 3-9 (c) The funds appropriated for the initiative may be 3-10 expended to support the eligible program for which an award is made 3-11 and may not be expended for the general support of ongoing research 3-12 at an eligible institution or for the construction or remodeling of 3-13 a facility. 3-14 Sec. 151.005. PROJECT REVIEW. (a) The coordinating board 3-15 shall utilize an advisory committee in administering the fund, a 3-16 majority of which must be experts in biotechnology and biogenetics 3-17 research. 3-18 (b) The advisory committee shall consist of nine members, 3-19 with three members to be selected by the governor, three by the 3-20 lieutenant governor and three by the speaker. 3-21 (c) The advisory committee shall evaluate the initiative's 3-22 effectiveness and report its findings to the coordinating board and 3-23 legislature not later than September 1 of each year. The advisory 3-24 committee shall include in its report any recommendations that it 3-25 has concerning funding allocations and proposals for future 4-1 funding. 4-2 SECTION 2. Section 382.002, Local Government Code, is 4-3 amended to read as follows: 4-4 Sec. 382.002. Purpose. The primary purpose of this chapter 4-5 is to create county research and development authorities to promote 4-6 scientific research and development and commercialization of 4-7 research in affiliation with public and private institutions of 4-8 research, higher education, or health science centers. Research to 4-9 be promoted, developed, and commercialized includes research in 4-10 recycling processes and recyclable materials and biotechnology and 4-11 biogenetics. 4-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 4-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-16 days be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.